Three Straight Road Matches Begins With Loyola, Creighton

Western Illinois begins its longest road stretch of the year on Friday (Aug. 29).

MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois women's soccer begins a three-game road stretch on Friday (Aug. 29). The Fighting Leathernecks travel to Loyola-Chicago and end the Labor Day Weekend with a Monday (Sept. 1) matinee at Creighton. The three-game road swing concludes Friday (Sept. 5) at Saint Louis.

Western Illinois began the 2014 campaign 1-1 with a season opening loss to MAC East favorite Kent State and a 2-0 victory over Northern Illinois. Second half goals from Sarah Hall and Nicole Beer led the Leathernecks to its first victory of the year while Victoria Kappel made one save as she kept the Huskies scoreless for her first shutout of the year. Kappel earned Summit League 'Defensive Player of the Week' honors as she climbed into third place all-time in WIU history with nine clean sheets.

FOLLOW THE ACTION:
Friday, August 29 7:00 PM
Western Illinois at Loyola-Chicago
Live Stats

Monday, September 1 12:00 PM
Western Illinois at Creighton
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Live Stats

MATCH NOTES:

A LOOK AT THE RAMBLERS: Loyola-Chicago 1-1 after a season-opening loss to No. 15 Marquette and a victory over Fairleigh Dickinson... Avalon Senn-Raemont has scored two of the three goals for the Ramblers through two matches... Kara Ruffolo scored the other, matching her goal scoring production from last season... Monica Gonyo has started both matches for Loyola after starting 20 in 2013... Coming off a junior season which she made 102 saves and limited opponents just 1.09 goals per match, Gonyo has allowed four goals in 180 minutes... Ramblers head coach enters his fourth year in charge.

SERIES HISTORY: The Leathernecks were left with only a draw last season after allowing a second half goal on a misplayed ball defensively, leaving Western Illinois winless against Loyola through seven meetings... Prior to last season, the two programs had not met since 2003, a 1-0 victory for the Ramblers in Macomb... The Leathernecks trail the all-time series 0-5-2, with the only draws coming at home.

A LOOK AT THE BLUEJAYS: After a 9-8-1 2013 season, Creighton defeated Incarnate Word and South Dakota State to begin the 2013 season... The Bluejays had to come from behind in its win over the Jackrabbits, falling behind in the 56th minute... Kirstyn Corder scored the winner for Creighton in the 83rd minute after SDSU leveled the match in the 74th minute... Four of the Bluejays five goals have come in the second half of play... Corder leads the Bluejays with two goals... Stephanie Anasi has a pair of assists on the year to lead the team... In goal, Danielle Rice has allowed two goals in 180 minutes, both against South Dakota State... Rice has made 10 saves in net... Bruce Erickson has led Creighton to 12 winning seasons in 16 years.

SERIES HISTORY: The Fighting Leathernecks and Bluejays will meet for the first time since 2008, a 2-0 victory for Creighton... Western Illinois is 0-10-1 against Creighton through 11 meetings, with the only draw coming in 2005 in Macomb.

LAST TIME OUT: Western Illinois began 2014 1-1 after a loss to MAC East favorites Kent State and a victory over Northern Illinois... After rebounding from a 3-0 loss, Western Illinois survived the heat and a visit from the Huskies... After an even first half, the Leathernecks dominated the final 45 minutes, out-shooting Northern Illinois 17-3 leading to goals from Sarah Hall and Nicole Beer.

DEFENSIVE TRADITION: Victoria Kappel was named The Summit League's 'Defensive Player of the Week' on Monday (Aug. 25)... The award is the goalkeeper's second weekly honor, her first coming on Sept. 19, 2011... The junior made eight saves against Kent State and followed that with a shutout against Northern Illinois... The clean sheet was Kappel's ninth of her career, moving her into third place in Western Illinois history alongside Meghan Tyk... The Orland Park, Ill. native trails only Summer Perala (12) and Laura Atkinson (17)... Kappel continues the tradition of goalkeepers at Western Illinois... Laura Atkinson, Meghan Tyk and Samantha Clark have all brought the honor to Macomb... Six different Leathernecks have won the award since the 2006 season... Since 2006, a Western Illinois player has been named 'Defensive Player of the Week' 12 times, trailing only South Dakota State (15) for most in The Summit League.

WEEKEND OF FIRSTS: During the opening weekend of the 2014 campaign, 12 Leathernecks made their debuts... Of the notable performances, Nicole Beer scored her first career goal against Northern Illinois... Mary Anderson assisted on Sarah Hall's goal against Northern Illinois... Devan Jones and Mary Street have logged more than 100 minutes.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Laura Atkinson: GK; Senior

#0 Victoria Kappel: GK; 5' 10"; Junior; Carl Sandburg

#20 Devan Jones: M/D; 5' 4"; Freshman; Hazelwood Central

#27 Mary Anderson: M; 5' 6"; Freshman; Thomas B. Doherty

#18 Sarah Hall: F; 5' 10"; Senior; St. Joseph's

#15 Nicole Beer: D; 5' 8"; Freshman; Elkhorn South

#24 Mary Street: D; 5' 4"; Freshman; McAuley Catholic

Players Mentioned

#1 Laura Atkinson
: Senior
: GK

#0 Victoria Kappel
: 5' 10"; Junior; Carl Sandburg
: GK

#20 Devan Jones
: 5' 4"; Freshman; Hazelwood Central
: M/D

#27 Mary Anderson
: 5' 6"; Freshman; Thomas B. Doherty
: M

#18 Sarah Hall
: 5' 10"; Senior; St. Joseph's
: F

#15 Nicole Beer
: 5' 8"; Freshman; Elkhorn South
: D

#24 Mary Street
: 5' 4"; Freshman; McAuley Catholic
: D